Panjistani langauge

Mohammad Afzal modern Panjistani language by M. Afzal, london, uk (1997). The term Panjistani has been used to cover the dialect continuum of Pothohari, Mirpuri, Jehlumi, Dhanni (Chakwali) Western Pahari, Poonchi, and sometimes Ghebi and Sawain. This lanaguge group was formerly called Nothern lahnda by christopher Shackle, london univeristy but before Mohammd Afzal, london; uk it did not have proper or literary name like Hinko/Hindko (for western lahnda) and Seraiki/multani (for southern lahnda) IT is ONLY SINCE M. AFZAL, (london; uk) that modern Panjistani language has ben officially and propelry regionsed as a literary langaguge (starting in the early 1990s) and replaced other former names like nothern lahnda/lahndi, poonchi, ghebi,sawain, jehlumi, mirpuri , Dhanni, Pothwari etc. Etymology. The origins of the term "Panjistani" comes from "Panjistan" meaning most probably "the land of 5 regions/areas or localities" eg Mirpur, Poonch (kashmir), rawalpindi/FCT, Jhelum and Chakwal (considered part of Nothern Panjab region. Distrubution of Modern panjistani lang. the language is spoken in Nothern Panjab (or Panjistan region) covering jhelum rawalinpnd and chakwal distrs. and northern shahpur area (around the salt range) and some parts of Kashmir (around mirpur and poonch regions). It is Est. that over 15 million people can speak or understand panjistani lang. nowdays in nothern panajb where is is common linga franca. Conclusion. gradually Panjistani has become an established lang. in nothern panjab and azad kashmir that it is begining to be used for popular literature educational and media purposes.